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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OBAMACARE’s MEDICAID EXPANSION LETS CONVICTS ROB THE ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE OF HEALTH CARE DOJ REPORTS 35 PERCENT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION POPULATION HAS A CRIMINAL HISTORY

As states continue to debate the virtues of expanding their Medicaid programs under ObamaCare, it’s not just able-bodied childless adults who stand to gain, but also those with a criminal past. A light-hearted video released by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) today highlights the serious problem of crowding out services for the current Medicaid population by former convicts.

“Everyone should know that a lawmaker calling for expansion is asking for criminals to get priority medical care at the expense of the disabled, elderly, children and others already enrolled in the current Medicaid program,” said FGA CEO Tarren Bragdon.

“What’s worse is that the victims of violent crimes will now be paying the medical bills of those who victimized them, all while watching their grandparent’s and children’s health care suffer.”

Lawmakers in expansion states have decided to put their most needy citizens on the chopping block so they can move able-bodied, working-age adults; almost all of whom (82 percent) have no children to support, nearly half of whom (45 percent) do not work, many of whom (35 percent) with a record of run-ins with the criminal justice system to the front of the line. So what happens to those on the ObamaCare chopping block? States that previously expanded Medicaid had to eliminate coverage for life-saving organ transplants, overload waitlists for services, cap enrollment and raise patient costs, all because promises were broken and costs exceeded projections.

ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion is funded by new taxes and $716 billion cut to seniors’ Medicare, likely resulting in restricted access, slashes benefits and being kicked off their Medicare Advantage plans.

Earlier this year, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (D) submitted a budget that covered the costs of his state’s early ObamaCare expansion by slashing payments to hospitals, nursing homes and insurance companies managing Medicaid plans, while also adding a $250 monthly premium to a program that helps the parents of severely disabled children access services not covered by their insurance. None of his proposals cut funding for services to the newly-covered felons and working-age able-bodied adults under his expansion.

“The entire idea of Medicaid expansion would be absurd if it weren’t so terrifying,” said Bragdon. “Not only does ObamaCare expansion ruin a state’s financial future, it also sends the disabled, the elderly and children to the back of the line while the criminals go to the front.”

FGA’s new video, ClubMedicaid, can be seen here. FGA Director of Research Jonathan Ingram’s report, “Who is on the ObamaCare Chopping Block?” can be found here.

Governed by an independent Board of Directors, the Foundation for Government Accountability is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501c(3) tax-exempt organization. Charitable donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.